During 12–17 August 1969, Northern Ireland was rocked by intense political and sectarian rioting. There had been sporadic violence throughout the year arising from the civil rights campaign, which was demanding an end to government discrimination against Irish Catholics and nationalists. Civil rights marches were repeatedly attacked by both Protestant loyalists and by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), an overwhelmingly Protestant police force.

The disorder led to the Battle of the Bogside in Derry – this was a three-day riot in the Bogside district between the RUC and the nationalist/Catholic residents. In support of the Bogsiders, nationalists and Catholics launched protests elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Some of these turned violent and led to attacks by loyalists working alongside the police. The most bloody rioting was in Belfast, where seven people were killed and hundreds more wounded. Scores of houses and businesses were burned-out, most of them owned by Catholics. In addition, thousands of mostly Catholic families were driven from their homes. The RUC was accused of helping the loyalists and of failing to protect Catholic areas. Events in Belfast have been viewed by some as a pogrom against the minority Catholic and nationalist community.

The British Army was deployed to restore order and peace lines began to be built to separate the two sides. The events of August 1969 are widely seen as the beginning of the thirty-year conflict known as the Troubles.

Other articles related to "1969 northern ireland riots, 1969, riots":

1969 Northern Ireland Riots - Effects - The RUC and USC ... The actions of the RUC in the August 1969 riots are perhaps the most contentious issue arising out of the disturbances ... that the RUC were under-strength, poorly led and that their conduct in the riots was explained by their perception that they were dealing with a co-ord ... In 1969 the USC contained no Catholics but was a force drawn from the Protestant section of the community ...

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